Tuesday, May 12, 2015

So,
the rewriting of COAST OF SPEARS is more-or-less done. And by
rewriting, I really mean line editing. The story itself would have
been worked out early, largely in the outlining stage. So the first
draft is pretty close to being the final draft — it needs
polishing, not radical change. Rarely have I felt the need to cut a
chapter or a character, though I might trim out a conversation or
unneeded descriptive passage.

I
had projected the novel, at the first stages of outlining, to come to approximately
60,000 words. I ended with 63,000. Sometimes things actually go
according to plan.

That
outline, incidentally, does continue to change and develop throughout
the writing process. If there is a change, I will work out what the
ramifications are there, before putting it into the narrative. The
outline, which is not formal, often takes the form of a series of
questions: what if so-and-so does this or such-and-such occurs? When
I have the answers, I have the book.

From
here it is more of a proof-reading and formatting task. Not that I
won’t see changes I want to make in the wording, right up until it
is sent off to the printer!

Which
should be in time for an official release date of July 1. Expect it
to show up in at least some stores a couple weeks sooner, especially
the ebook versions.

Although
COAST OF SPEARS is much more of a stand-alone tale than the Donzalo
novels, it is still part of a longer narrative. I very much have a
sequel (well, probably more than one) in mind, and semi-plotted out.
Tentatively, it will be titled VALLEY OF VISIONS.

But
that is very tentative. We left Malvern making the decision to follow
his antagonists into the mountains, both to discover what was calling
him to their peaks and to rescue the woman they have kidnapped.
Exactly how he feels about that woman is still somewhat up in the air
at the close of COS but I guarantee it will not be by the end of the
novel that follows!

There
will also be many answers about the world in which he finds himself,
and a better understanding of the forces at play. These include
‘magical’ forces, which I shall say right here follow exactly the
same rules as in the “Donzalo’s Destiny” books. Because this
is, after all, the same world but at a far earlier time.

Will
I start on it immediately? I shouldn’t, for I have so many other
projects in mind, but inspiration may force me to stick with Malvern.
Honestly, I would probably write a better sequel if I do get the
story out of my head for a while, work on something else, and return
with fresh eyes and thoughts.

Then,
there are the novels set in Donzalo’s time that need to be written.
All those illustrations for the children’s books need drawn, and
another poetry collection, oh, and the ‘serious’ novel that takes
place in contemporary Florida.

Obviously,
I don’t suffer from writer’s block — there is always more stuff
in my head than I have time to write down. Maybe writer’s gum-up,
when I’ve stared at too many words too long and can’t think
straight anymore! That’s when it’s time to pour my daily three
ounces of red wine and call it a day.